Emergeney automobile exit system

ABSTRACT

The invention is an independent electronic and pneumatic means (independent of the motor vehicle&#39;s own electrical or mechanical systems) of opening a motor vehicle&#39;s electric windows and electric door locks by means of a single button (in the case of the electrical system) or lever (in the case of the pneumatic system). The electrical system uses and independent twelve volt battery (which contains a battery charging system and housed in the vehicle&#39;s door panel) to operate the vehicles electric window motors and eclectic door locks. The pneumatic system uses a single CO2 cartridge to operate pistons positioned in a position to release the electric windows and open the electric door locks.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The instant invention pertains to the field of motor vehicle safetydevices. The invention was conceived in an attempt to address the needfor an emergency means to exit a motor vehicle which has had itselectrical system disabled and wherein time (to exit the motor vehicle)is of the essence (for example, in a situation where a vehicle issubmerged in water). This invention will operate to open electricalwindows, and unlock doors, in a motor vehicle even when the motorvehicle has lost use of its electrical system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is a device which would allow the occupants of a motorvehicle a means to exit a vehicle which has had its electrical systemdisabled by means of pushing a button and/or pulling a lever and havingthe system unlock the vehicle's door locks and open the vehicle'selectric windows without the need of the vehicle's own electricalsystem. The advantages of the invention would be to occupants of motorvehicles who are in need of an emergency exit of said motor vehicle andwherein the vehicle's own electric system has failed and thereforeunable to open the vehicle's window and door locks. This invention wouldbe especially useful in the situation wherein a vehicle is submerged inwater (after, for example, having been driven off of a bridge) and thedoors are too heavy (given water pressure) to open and the electricalwindows are rendered inoperable due to the failure of the vehicle'selectrical system. Additional uses would include situations involvingfire, children trapped in the vehicle, automobile accidents, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A—Schematic of electrical system

Drawing FIG. 1A illustrates the installation of the electrical systeminstalled within a vehicle's door. The figure illustrates the wiringfrom the system's 12 volt batter, the battery charger, the limitcharger, the switch (used to activate the system) and the wiring to thewindow's electric motor and electric power lock.

FIG. 2A—Schematic of pneumatic system

Drawing FIG. 2A illustrates the installation of the pneumatic systeminstalled within a vehicle's door. The figure illustrates the lever(installed on the interior side of the vehicle's door) attached to theCO2 cartridge (contained in a housing installed inside the door) withthe attached air hoses leading to pistons positioned to 1) release thewindow from its track (and therefore release the window) and more thedoor lock into the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The instant invention is a product that will allow for an emergencywindow and door exit from a vehicle by virtue of the automatic andimmediate opening of electrical windows, and the unlocking of electricaldoor locks, with the push of a single button and/or lever without theneed or use of the motor vehicle's own electric system.

The invention would be used by owners, drivers and occupants ofautomobiles with electric door locks and electric windows. Of specialuse and interest would be persons who regularly travel by, near, or overbodies of water where the possibility (however remote or unlikely) mayexist that the motor vehicle may (by any form of automobile accident ormishap) enter the water and wherein the occupants would be in need of anemergency escape that would otherwise be difficult or unavailablewithout the use of the invention. Additional usage would be anysituation wherein the occupants of the motor vehicle are entrapped inthe vehicle and in need of an emergency exit through the windows and/ordoors and are otherwise unable to electronically unlock the doors and/oropen the electrical windows to exit the motor vehicle.

The instant invention is a system which provides for the emergency exitof a motor vehicle by opening the electric windows and unlocking theelectric door locks by means of an independent electric and pneumaticsystem.

The electrical system contains the following component parts:

-   -   a button-type switch which provides for one touch activation        (component part used: Autozone Model R13-28A);    -   one twelve volt rechargeable battery (component part used: Black        and Decker Model HPV12);    -   one twelve volt battery charger (component part used: Radio        Shack Model Number 2300333);    -   one battery box used to house the twelve volt battery (component        part used: Radio Shack Model 270-1801);    -   eighteen gauge stranded electrical wire (12 volt) (component        part used: Radio Shack Model Number 2781226); and    -   electrical wire connectors (locking male and female type) for        eight wires and two wires (component parts used: Radio Shack        Model Number 2740239 (9 wire connectors) and Radio Shack Model        Number 2740151 (2 wire connectors).

The pneumatic system contains the following component parts:

-   -   ⅜ inch air hoses (capable of withstanding up to 300 pounds of        pressure per square inch)(component part used: Parflex Model        Number ¼×0.040″);    -   ⅜ inch air hose connectors including butt connectors and “T”        connectors (component parts used: Parker PrestoLock ¼× 10/32 and        ⅜TH INCH-T'S ¼×3″);    -   Air Pistons (300 pounds per square inch capability and ⅜ inch in        size) (component part used: SMC Model Number CDJ2BIO-30-B;    -   CO2 cartridge (12 grams) (component part used: Eagle Air Model        Number 141190000);    -   aluminum housing used to house the CO2 cartridge; and    -   Lever.

The electrical system, using the above-described parts, uses a twelvevolt rechargeable battery, housed within one of the motor vehicle'sdoors, to power the vehicle's own electric window motors and power doorlocks in the event of the vehicle's own power failure. The independenttwelve volt battery is housed in a battery box, installed within one ofthe vehicle's door panels and continuously charged with the vehicle'sown battery (up to the moment of the vehicle's power failure). A limitcharger is used to reduce overcharging of the independent 12 voltbattery. In the event of a power failure on the part of the vehicle'selectrical system, a single button will activate the system to power, byuse of the system's independent battery, the vehicle's power windowmotors and power door locks—thus opening the windows and unlocking thedoors to allow for occupant exit.

The pneumatic system, using the above-described parts, uses a CO2cartridge to trigger two pistons. A CO2 cartridge is housed in analuminum housing which is installed inside one of the vehicles doorpanels. On the exposed and interior side of the door, a lever isinstalled. The lever is installed in such as way as to activate therelease of the CO2 from the cartridge with the activation of the lever.The CO2 is channeled to an air hose. The hose route is split by use of a“t” connector. One hose then goes to a piston which is installed in sucha way as to knock the window off of its track when activated. The otherpiston is positioned in such a way as to push up the lock mechanism (andthus unlock the door) when activated. The system, once activated, wouldhave to be re-energized by installing a charged CO2 cartridge. With asingle movement of the lever, the windows are released (and thereforeable to be opened manually by pulling the window down) and the doorlocks are opened, thus allowing the occupants to exit the vehicle.

The electrical and pneumatic systems may be used together or separately.Neither system causes any permanent damage to the vehicle (either to itswindows, window tracks or door lock system).

1- What I claim as my invention is the independent mechanism and means(independent of the vehicle's own electrical or mechanical system) foropening eclectic motor vehicle windows and door locks, simultaneously,with the touch of one button (in the case of the electrical system). 2-What I claim as my invention is the independent mechanism and means(independent of the vehicle's own electrical or mechanical system) foropening eclectic motor vehicle windows and door locks, simultaneously,with the pull of one lever (in the case of the pneumatic system). 3-What I claim in my invention is the independent mechanism and means(independent of the vehicle's own electrical or mechanical system) foropening eclectic motor vehicle windows and door locks, simultaneously,with the touch of one button or the pull of one lever, which willfunction even if the vehicle is: submersed in water; without a workingelectrical system; and upside down.